Taiwan Heirloom Oolong

This aged oolong is a tea with both character and a story behind it. It came into my hands through a close friend of my wife’s family, almost by chance. This is often how truly special teas are found—they rarely appear through ordinary retail channels. Access comes through relationships built on the ground and developed over time.

The tea has remained within our friend’s family since it was acquired from the widow of a farmer in Guoxing Township, Nantou County, around two decades ago. The farmer both produced his own tea and collected teas from other local farmers in the area. These teas were largely produced in Nantou’s traditional lower-elevation tea-growing regions and made in the older open-leaf style common before the tighter rolled-leaf style became more prevalent in the 1970s.

This particular tea is made in that older open-leaf style. While the exact production date is uncertain, these details give us greater confidence in estimating the tea to be around sixty years old.

Since entering our friend’s family collection, the tea has been carefully stored in clay jars. The storage has been on the drier side, with none of the dank or overly humid flavors sometimes found in aged teas.

In the cup, this tea is deeply satisfying and carries a character reminiscent of Dongding. It brews with strength and concentration, offering a smooth texture and excellent depth. It also received a stronger roast, which has integrated beautifully over time and blends with pleasant fruit notes and other aged flavors. The finish is long, leaving a persistent aftertaste, and the overall character strikes a beautiful balance between softness and strength.

For puer drinkers who appreciate a satisfying aged oolong—as well as for dedicated oolong lovers—this tea comes highly recommended.